Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Bile and bile salts have a long history of use in traditional medicine systems for supporting digestion and treating indigestion, particularly in the form of animal-derived bile extracts or ox bile supplements. The rationale behind this traditional use is based on the physiological role of bile in the body: it is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, then released into the small intestine to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats. In cases of indigestion, especially when related to poor fat digestion or certain types of biliary insufficiency, traditional healers and practitioners prescribed bile or bile salts as a remedy. Historically, bile (often as "ox bile") was included in European and Asian pharmacopeias for the relief of digestive complaints. However, while there is a plausible mechanism (bile’s emulsifying effect on dietary fats), high-quality scientific studies supporting its use for general indigestion are limited. Modern medicine recognizes the use of bile salts for specific conditions such as bile acid insufficiency or after gallbladder removal, but not broadly for indigestion unrelated to biliary dysfunction. Therefore, the evidence supporting the use of bile for general indigestion is primarily traditional, with limited clinical data. Reviews and studies that do exist are either dated or focus on very specific subgroups of patients. As such, while the traditional use is well-documented, scientific validation is modest, reflected in the evidence rating.

More about bile
More about Indigestion

Other ingredients used for Indigestion

Acid protease
Actinidin
Activated charcoal
Agarwood
Agastache
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Alchemilla
Alcohol
Alginic acid
Allspice
Aloe vera
alpha-galactosidase
alpinia galangal
ambergris
American Liverleaf
Amomum
Amor seco
amylase
anemarrhena asphodeloides
Angelica
Angostura
anise
Aniseed myrtle
antifoam agent
apple
apple cider vinegar
Appleblossom Cassia
apricot
Arani
Areca
Arisaema
arrowroot
artichoke
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
atractylodes
atractylone
avens
bael
Baliospermum
bamboo
banana
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
Belamcanda
belleric myrobalan
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bentonite
betel
betony
bicarbonate
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium longum
big quaking grass
bile
bile salt
bistort
bitter principals
black gram
black pepper
black salt
blackbrush
blackthorn
blessed thistle
blue flag
boldo
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
bottle gourd
Bougainvillea
Broussonetia
Buddha\'s hand
butter
buttermilk
butternut
calamus
calcium
Campylandra fimbriata
cantaloupe
cape aloe
capsicum
caraway
cardamom
Carlina
carob
carqueja
carvone
cascara sagrada
cassia bark
Centaurium erythraea
centaury
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chamomile
chen pi
Chenopodium
chervil
chestnut
chirata
chive
chloride
Chlorophytum
chrysanthemum
citron
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
coca
cola nut
colocynth
colombo
copalchi
coriander
cubeb
cucumber
cumin
curcumin
cutch
Cymbopogon martini
dandelion
dense fruit dittany
dextrin
dianthrone
Dichrostachys glomerata
dill
dioscorea
dogwood
Dolichos
dragonhead
elecampane
elephant\'s head
English horsemint
enzyme blend
exo-peptidase
false calumba
fennel
fenugreek
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
fig
flat-stem milk-vetch
flowering quince
four-leaved grass
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
Fumaria parviflora
fumitory
Galbanum
garden cress
gentian
gentian root
Gentiana calycosa
Gentiana manshurica
Gentianella alborosea
Gentianella amarella
Gentianopsis barbata
ginger
Glucofrangulin
glucomannan
goldthread
grains of paradise
green banana
green chiretta
Guaiac
Heartsease
Hedychium spicatum
Himalayan salt
holarrhena antidysenterica
horehound
Horsemint
Hygrophila
hyssop
Indian bael
inula racemosa
Jalap
Javanese Long Pepper
Jicama
jujube
juniper berries
Jurubeba
karaya gum
Kefir
Khella
kola nut
Konjac
kuding tea
kudzu
Kukicha
labrador tea
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus lactis
Large-leaf gentian
Large-leaved linden
lemon balm
Lesser speargrass
licorice root
Lilium polyphyllum
lime
linden
lipase
liquid liver fractions
lovage
Lycopodium
Lysimachia
mace
malt
mandarin
Marjoram
Marshmallow
Meadowsweet
Melon
Mentha haplocalyx
Mesquite
Methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (vitamin U)
Microtea debilis
Mint
Molasses
Morning glory
Mountain mahogany
Mucilage
Nardostachys
Natsudaidai
Neral
Operculina turpethum
orange
Orchis latifolia
oregon grape
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
oryza
Osmanthus
ox bile
Palmyra
pancreatin
papain
Parsnip
Patrinia
peach
Peppermint
pepsin
Pimpinella
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
Piperine
plum fruit
Polygonatum
potash
prickly ash
Prickly Pear Cactus
probiotics
psyllium
Pulsatilla
punarnava
quail egg
quassia
queen of the meadow
quince
radish
Rhamnus nakaharai
rhubarb
rhubarb root
rice
root tuber
rose
Rubus
rue
Sago Palm
Sassafras
Savory
Scabrous Gentian
schizonepeta
Scirpus
sea salt
Sedanenolide
Self-Heal
Servicetree
Shen Qu
Sichuan pepper
Silybum
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
spearmint leaf
Stephania root
Sterculia
Sweet Orange alcohol
Sweet Woodruff
sweetgums
Sword Bean
Taka amylase
Tansy
Taraxacin
Taraxol
Tarragon
Tiger Nut
Traveler's Joy
turmeric
Vanilla
Verbena
Veronica
Vervain
Viburnum
Vidanga
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
Weak Jumby Pepper
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Wood betony
Xylanase
Yarrow
Yellow Nut Sedge
Yuzu
Zapilopatle Bean
Zingerone

Other health conditions supported by bile

Digestion (poor)
Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed)
Indigestion

Products containing bile

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.